Cotton picking spindle assembly



June 11, 1968 J. T. TRACY COTTON PICKING SPINDLE ASSEMBLY Filed June 28,1965 R m r m V 3w 9w 3v 6% v x mm w liz Q 3 3 mm 9 vw G I N mm mm Qv Fm%m. I mm 1 mm HIHEJTHMH w mv mv M \W N I H N um United States Patent3,387,439 COTTON PICKING SPINDLE ASSEMBLY James T. Tracy, Memphis,Tenn., assignor to International Harvester Company, Chicago, Ill.,"acorporation of Delaware Filed June 28, 1965, Ser. No. 467,348 5 Claims.(Cl. 56-50) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cotton harvester having barswith spindles projecting therefrom and shields on the spindles havingextensive cylindrical nut covering sleeves which have a runningclearance with the nut and extend remotely from the cotton picking areasof the spindles.

The present invention relates to a cotton picking spindle assembly.

The invention relates to a spindle assembly for a cotton picker in whichthe spindles rotate and are projected into the cotton plants to pick theseed cotton and retract from the plant whereupon they are doifed toremove the cotton therefrom. In structures of this nature there areseveral difliculties encountered, a principal one of which is theaccumulation of cotton shreds and foreign material on the revolvingspindle at the extremity of the bearing means which mounts the spindle,together with the tendency of lubricant from the heating means tomigrate outwardly into the mass of picked cotton with the consequencethat the cotton is contaminated and its value correspondingly reduced.Also the loss of lubricant requires frequent replenishing of thelubricant to the spindle assembly.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a cotton pickingspindle assembly of such novel construction as to overcome thedifficulties referred to above and to correspondingly prevent theaccumulation of cotton fibers and foreign material on the spindleassembly and to prevent the migration of the lubricant out of thespindle assembly and into the cotton fibers.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a spindle assemblyof the foregoing character which includes a shield mounted on andcarried by the spindle with a skirt portion surrounding a substantialportion of the bearing means in which the spindle is mounted, and withthe skirt portion extending beyond locations where normally the cottonwould be present and tend to build up, thus preventing the buildup ofcotton fibers at the bearing extremity and the exit of lubricant fromthe bearing assembly.

Still another and more specific object is to provide a spindle assemblywith a shield of the character just referred to, wherein the shieldincludes an outer enveloping elongated skirt portion completelysurrounding the bearing means in which the spindle is mounted, togetherwith the feature that the spindle assembly is mounted in an operatingstructure which tends to throw materials outwardly toward the outer endof the spindle, whereby lubricant that is thrown in outward direction isprevented by the same centrifugal force that throws it outwardly, fromreturning under the shield and entering into the mass of cottonsurrounding the spindle, as well as to prevent cotton fibers and foreignmaterials from entering into the space between the surrounding shieldand the bearing means. Thus when non-fluid lubricants (grease) are usedthe non-slingout feature will greatly extend lubricant re tention sothat less frequent addition of lubricant is required.

ICE

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing detail description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an axial sectional view of a spindle assembly made accordingto the present invention with portions of a conventional slat barstructure of a cotton picker shown in vertical section; and

FIGURE 2 is a view from the top of FIGURE 1 indicating the direction ofmovement of the spindle around vertical axes.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the spindle assembly of theinvention is indicated generally at 10, which is mounted in a verticalpicker bar 12 of suitable kind, this picker bar 12 being indicated alsoin FIGURE 2. The spindle assembly 10 is one of a plurality of suchspindle assemblies mounted on the picker bar in vertical alignment. Thepicker bar 12 is one of a plurality of such picker bars arranged formovement in an arcuate path indicated generally by the arrow 13, withthe consequence that the lubricant in the spindle assembly tends to bethrown, due to centrifugal force, outwardly or to the left as viewed inFIGURES 1 and 2.

The means for mounting the spindle assembly on the picker bar 12includes a tubular boss 14 internally threaded as at 16 which leads fromthe interior 18 of the picker bar radially outwardly to the exterior.The spindle assembly 10 includes a nut member 20 having an inwardlydirected exteriorly threaded portion 22 inserted in the bore 16 of thepicker bar. Outward of the extension 22 is a polygonal element 24serving as a nut or wrench engag ing element for threading the nutmember into position, and outwardly of the polygonal element 24 is atubular extension 26 of substantial axial extent. The nut member 20 isthreaded into the bore 16 preferably until the nut element 24 tightlyengages the boss 14.

A spindle 28 is rotatably mounted in the nut member and includes aninner end portion on which a driving gear 30 is secured for drivingengagement with another gear 31 on a driving member of suitable kind.The spindle 28 includes a cylindrical shank portion 32 disposed in thebore of the nut member and extending slightly outwardly therebeyond, andoutwardly of this cylindrical portion is a tapered cotton pickingportion 34.

Interposed between the spindle and the nut member is a bearing means 36which may be of any suitable kind such for example as a bushing or aneedle bearing, and if desired a grease seal 38 may be providedoutwardly of the bearing means but this seal is not essential. Also thenut could be the bearing means itself with no separate bearing 36,required.

The lubricant provided in the bearing means 36, whether the bearingmeans is in the form of a bushing, or a needle hearing, or integralwithin the nut, under the action of the centrifugal force developed bythe movement of the mechanism in the direction referred to above, tendsto flow or migrate outwardly toward the outer end of the bearing means.

A spindle shield indicated in its entirety at 40 is provided to preventthe buildup of cotton fibers at the bearing extremity and also toprevent the entrance of the cotton fibers and foreign material into theinterior of the spindle assembly, and to prevent the outward migrationof lubricant through the bearing means 36 into the mass of cotton beingpicked. The shield 40' is generally tubular in shape and includes anouter portion 42 dimensioned for frictionally and sealingly engaging thespindle, such as on the outer end of the cylindrical portion 32 thatextends beyond the bearing means, so as to be carried and rotated by thespindle. The shield 40 also includes a tubular skirt portion 44extending inwardly from the outer end portion 42 in surrounding relationto the extension 26 of the nut member. The skirt portion 44 may extendrearwardly into close proximity to the outer surface 46 of the nut-likeelement 24, while the space indicated at 48 between the skirt portion 44and the tubular element 26 preferably is of minimum clearance, greatenough not to interfere with the free running rotational movemen.between the elements, but small enough to prevent the entrance of cottonfibers and foreign material thereinio. That space is exaggerated in thedrawing.

In the operation of the device as the spindle 28 enters into the cottonplants and engages the cotton bolls, there is a tendency for the cottonfibers to migrate toward or be forced toward the inner end of thespindle end in the absence of means to prevent it, to gather and wrap onthe spindle at the bearing extremity and to enter into the space betweenthe spindle and the means supporting it. In the present instance theskirt portion 44 of the shield completely surrounds the extension 26 andprevents direct engagement of the plants or the cotton bolls with theextension 26. Any cotton fibers or foreign material must follow atortuous path into the interior of the bearing structure, i.e., aroundthe extended terminal edge of the skirt portion 44 (the right end,FIGURE 1) and then in reverse direction in the substantially elongatedspace 48 between the skirt portion and the tubular portion 26 of thebearing means. The minimum running clearance of the substantiallyelongated space 48 prevents the passage of any cotton fibers or othermaterials from passing therethrough. Preferably the forward exteriorsurface of the shield 44 is tapered as at 50 so as to facilitaterelative movement therepast by the cotton fibers and to prevent snaggingthereon by the fibers.

As noted above, the tendency in the operation of the pickerincorporating the spindle assembly is to throw lubricant outwardlythrough the bearing means, and in the absence of means to prevent it,the lubricant would find its way into the picked cotton. In the presentinstance the only path for that lubricant to escape from the bearingassembly would be through the space 48, but in view of the fact thatthis involves a tortuous path, the progression of the lubricant out ofthe assembly is retarded. This is the more so because of the axiallength of the space 43 which would require the lubricant after beingthrown from the bearing means to migrate axially inwardly throughout thefull extent of the space 48 which, because of its great length, retardsand even prevents such migration of lubricant. Centrifugal force alsotends to prevent migration of lubricant through the space 48. This is aconsiderable factor since any lubricant that contacts the cotton,materially lowers its commercial value.

Thus the outwardly enveloping skirt portion 44 extending rearwardly asfar as it does around the bearing assembly, together with its relativelytight fit with the bearing structure, produces the dual advantage ofpreventing the escape of lubricant and the entrance of cotton fibers andforeign material.

It will be noted also that the shield 40 extends behind the slat bars60, 60 which on their forward sides 61 define one side of a plantpassage of a cotton picker as well known in the art. The axial extent ofthe sleeve portion 44 is such that its free edge 62 is a considerabledistance from the region where normally cotton would be present. Thusany lubricant which may incidentally escape through the space 63 woulddeposit on the non-rotating member 46 and/or the column or bar 12.

While I have herein disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention itwill be understood that changes may be made therein within the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cotton picking spindle assembly adapted for mounting in a pickerbar having an aperture for receiving it, comprising, in combination, anut member threaded into the aperture and having a enlargement axiallyoutwardly beyond the threaded portion and an elongated tubular extensionaxially outwardly of the enlargement, a spindle mounted in the nutmember and having a cotton picking extension axially outwardlytherebeyond, and a shield mounted on, carried by and rotatable with thespindle and sealingly engaging the spindle at a position axiallyoutwardly of the nut member and having a skirt portion extending axiallyinwardly in surrounding relation to the tubular extension and extendinginto close proximity to the enlargement of the nut member.

2. The invention set out in claim 1 wherein the skirt member and thetubular extension of the nut member are so dimensioned as to provide anannular space therebetween, constituted by a minimum running clearancewhereby to prevent the entrance of solid particles such as cotton fibersand dirt into the space and to retard the migration of lubricantoutwardly through the space.

3. For use in a cotton harvester having a pick-er bar for providing anaperture, the combination comprising, a nut member mounted in saidaperture and providing a bore, and having a tubular portion projecting asubstantial extent axially outwardly from the picker bar, a spindlemounted in said bore and having a cotton picking portion extendingaxially outwardly beyond said tubular portion, and tubular meanssealingly engaging the spindle and rotatable therewith and surroundingsubstantially all of the projection of said tubular portion, andcomprising a chamfer portion disposed at one end of said tubular portionand having a cylindrical portion extending from the chamfer portion witha slight clearance relative to said tubular portion.

4. A cotton picker spindle assembly for use in a picker bar, comprisingin combination, a nut member mounted in the picker bar and having anaxially outwardly directed tubular extension, the nut member defining abore leading from the interior of the picker bar outwardly therethrough,a spindle mounted in the nut member having an inner end in the pickerbar, means on the inner end of the spindle for engagement with drivingmeans for rotating the spindle, the spindle having a cylindrical baseend portion journalled in the nut member and extending axially outwardlya short distance therebeyond, and an outer tapered picking portion,bearing surface means interposed between the spindle and the nut membersusceptible of limited migration of lubricant between the spindle andsurface means, and a tubular shield having an axially outer reduced endfrictionally and sealingly engaging the spindle on the cylindrical baseend portion thereof outwardly of end adjacent to the nut member wherebythe shield is carried and rotated by the spindle, the shield also havinga tubular skirt portion extending axially inwardly in surroundingrelation to the tubular portion of the nut member to a position adjacentthe inner end of the nut member with minimum running clearancetherebetween.

5. In a cotton picker of the type having a plant passage defined atleast in part by a slatted wall structure and a picker bar behind saidwall structure and orbital about a predetermined axis and including a.plurality of cotton picking spindles projected through said wallstructure into said passage for picking cotton from plants therein, atubular holder for each spindle on said picker bar and extendingtransaxially of said axis and mounting said spindle for rotation aboutits longitudinal axis, and a shield and lubricant retainer meansconnected to the spindle and rotatable therewith and including a tubularportion extending from said wall structure to said picker bar and havinga distal end distantly remote from said wall structure out of the cottonpicking and retaining area of the spindle to prevent cotton contact withlubricant contaminants.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,876,612 3/1959 Walker et al56-50 ANTONIO F. GUIDA, Primary Examiner.

RUSSELL R. KINSEY, Examiner.

